SWAN Day and a Hamster Party
Some days it pays to be at the front of the alphabet. My surname for the past 18 years, Amsler, is often mispronounced. My favorite butchering was via the hostess at Red Lobster in Lafayette, Indiana who used the loud speaker to call for “Hamster Party of two. Hamster party.” (And who wouldn’t want to go to a Hamster party?)
But this time, my A last name got me top billing at the upcoming SWAN Day event. I’m not even going to pretend that I earned the top space because just consider the top-notch talent I will be sharing the stage with: screenwriters, authors, playwrights, artists….
If you are in the Dayton area, consider stopping by:
Auditorium in the Dayton Metro Library Main Branch at 215 E. Third St
March 31st, 2012 at 3 pm
to celebrate Dayton’s first SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) Day.
This showcase is free and includes short films, poetry, plays, readings from novels, visual artists and more.
Lost in Translation
I’ll be reading a short story titled Baggage Claim which features several passages in Malaysian. You’ll be shocked to learn I do not speak Malaysian and I’m sure I’ll butcher the phrases. Hopefully no one fluent in Malaysian will be in attendance to correct me.
There is a good chance I have mistranslated the phrase “Did we miss our plane?” into “Did we miss the Hamster party?” You never know.
You can learn more about Dayton’s SWAN Day here.
Round One: NYC Midnight Contest
I’ve never been to NYC but I just took first place for my heat in the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge 2011. I was drawn to this contest because:
1.) You are given a topic, a character, genre and short time to write an appropriate short story. I thrive under pressure and with ready-made assignments.
2.) You get feedback on your story–win or lose–from both peers and the judges. Feedback is priceless.
3.) If you beat out the other 625 authors and win first prize, you win $1,500.
The contest runs in three segments. The first round (where I just placed) allowed us one week to construct a 2,500 word story using the three prompts. My assignment was to write a historical fiction piece about a riot and a philander. The week of writing fell in the middle of an emergency trip to Michigan so I was pleased to just finish. But after researching an obscure riot in Singapore in 1950, I fell in love with Nadra’s story. My piece, titled “Baggage Claim”, became one of my favorites and will even be performed at this month’s SWAN Day presentation.
The next round starts tonight at midnight and requires 1,500 words in three days about a new topic, character and genre. I’m praying for any genre other than political satire!
This contest’s biggest advantage is the timed incentive to write, even out of your comfort zone. And the feedback–both peer and professional–is a big bonus.
What writing contests do you enjoy and why?
Rum and Coke Cupcakes
Along with the Strawberry Daiquiri’s cute umbrellas, I especially like the Rum and Coke accessory–a mini lime and cherry on a pick.
Rum and Coke Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate, in squares
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup Coco-cola
- 1/2 cup light or dark rum
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. rum extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add paper liners to large and/or small cupcake tins.
In a large saucepan, melt chocolate, butter, and rum in a bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add Coca-cola. Add mixture to a large bowl and add flour, sugar and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
Stir in buttermilk, baking soda eggs and extract and beat till smooth.
Pour into prepared tins.
Bake for 25-30 minutes for large cupcakes and 15-20 minutes for mini cupcakes. Let cool then poke holes in the top with a skewer. Brush a 1/4 cup of rum over the tops before frosting with Rum Frosting.
Rum Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. rum extract
3 c. confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup light or dark rum
3-4 Tb. of cream (for consistency)
Beat all ingredients together, adding cream to create the proper spreading consistency. Frost cooled cupcakes with a star tip. Cut a lime into small wedges and cut a Marschino cherry in half. Thread a piece of lime and cherry on a colored plastic skewer and add to cupcake.
Kahula and Cream Cupcakes
The coffee bean and moist chocolate cupcake make these concoctions delicious.
Kahula and Cream Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate, in squares
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup Kahula
- 1/2 cup milk or cream
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. rum extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add paper liners to large and/or small cupcake tins.
In a large saucepan, melt chocolate, butter, and Kahula in a bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add milk/cream. Add mixture to a large bowl and add flour, sugar and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
Stir in buttermilk, baking soda eggs and extract and beat till smooth.
Pour into prepared tins.
Bake for 25-30 minutes for large cupcakes and 15-20 minutes for mini cupcakes. Let cool then poke holes in the top with a skewer. Brush a 1/4 cup of Kahula and vodka mixture over the tops before frosting with Kahula Frosting.
Kahula Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. rum extract
3 c. confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup Kahula
3-4 Tb. of cream (for consistency)
Beat all ingredients together, adding cream to create the proper spreading consistency. Frost cooled cupcakes and add a single chocolate covered espresso or coffee bean. Sprinkle with cocoa powder.
Jell-O Shot Cupcakes
The vodka-soaked gummy bears are a little messier and need to be set aside for the adult-only cupcakes. But they do add a special touch. You can also use plain ol’ virgin gummy bears.
Jell-O Shot Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup warm Jell-O (any flavor) and vodka, mixed
- 1/4 cup colored sprinkles
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add paper liners to large and/or small cupcake tins.
In a middle bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and extract and mix thoroughly. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk and vodka mixture. Stir in colored sprinkles.
Pour into prepared tins.
Bake for 25-30 minutes for large cupcakes and 15-20 minutes for mini cupcakes. Let cool then poke wide holes in the top with a skewer. Pour a full 1 cup of Jell-O and vodka mixture in the holes. Once the juice has settled, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
1 8 oz. bar of cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 c. confectioners’ sugar
3-4 Tb. of cream (for consistency)
Beat all ingredients together, adding cream to create the proper spreading consistency. Frost cooled cupcakes and add a single vodka-soaked or plain gummy bear. Sprinkle with multi-colored sugars.
Strawberry Daiquiri Cupcakes
The umbrellas are the key to this cute cupcake. Pureed strawberries also make these cupcakes extra moist.
Strawberry Daiquiri Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. strawberry extract
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup pureed strawberries
- 1-1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 strawberry daiquiri mix and light rum, mixed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add paper liners to large and/or small cupcake tins.
In a middle bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and extract and mix thoroughly. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk and daiquiri mixture.
Pour into prepared tins.
Bake for 25-30 minutes for large cupcakes and 15-20 minutes for mini cupcakes. Let cool then poke holes in the top with a skewer. “Drench” the top of the cupcakes with a 1/4 cup of daiquiri and rum mixture before frosting with Daiquiri Frosting.
Daiquiri Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. strawberry extract
3 c. confectioners’ sugar
1/4 c. strawberry daiquiri mix and light rum mixture
1-2 Tb. of cream (for consistency)
Beat all ingredients together, adding cream to create the proper spreading consistency. Frost cooled cupcakes using a star tip.
Add granulated pink sugar and an umbrella.